The integration of Custom Fleet, which was bought by GE Capital Solutions last year for £235 million, has been completed.

The benefits this will bring to its former customers include a more extensive menu of funding options and improved technology provision, thanks to GE’s web-enabled fleet management services, such as the online iManage fleet management tool.

“We were very careful with the integration process,” Gary Killeen, commercial leader fleet solutions, said.

“We were aware that fleet managers appreciated Custom Fleet’s personal approach to their business, and we’ve been careful to preserve that. We were also aware that there had been a lack of technical investment and that is one of the major benefits fleet managers from Custom Fleet can now enjoy with GE.

“The most fundamental change fleet managers will have noticed is the change in approach. Whereas Custom Fleet was highly transactional in nature, GE is much more consultative. We ask customers what they want out of their fleet management relationship with us.”

Fleets who use Custom Fleet’s broker network will have also noticed some changes. Brokers now have access to GE’s online quotation and ordering system, as well as an online credit referencing facility.

Killeen said that the former Custom Fleet broker business had increased by 7% post-acquisition, representing 8% of GE’s funded business.

“The broker side is very important to us,” said Killeen. “We didn’t have a presence there until our purchase of Custom Fleet.”